Metal grating



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Patented May 5, 1942 METAL GRATING Claud H. Bills and George ELYoung,

Los Angeles, Calif.

Application September 24, 1938, Serial No. 231,556

2 Claims.

This invention relates to a metal grating construction, particularlyuseful in the construction of stairways, walkways, surface walks, andthe like, where it is desirable, as Well as necessary, to preventslipping on the grating.

An object of our invention is to provide a novel metal gratingconstruction, in which the strength of the grating is increased by meansof a novel arrangement of embossed areas, through which holes oropenings are out.

Another object of our invention is to provide a novel metal grating ofthe character stated, in which the openings in the embossed areas of themetal are cut so as to leave straight, vertical edges, therebyincreasing the gripping effect of the grating, and also preventing thclogging of these openings with dirt and the like.

Still another object of our invention is to provide a novel metalgrating of the character stated to increase the bending strength of themetal plate over a flat sheet, by means of a novel arrangement ofembossed areas in the grating, even though a substantial part of themetal is cut away to provide openings through the metal plate.

Still another object is to provide a metal grating of the characterstated, which is reversible so that when one area becomes worn, th platecan be reversed and again utilized for a substantial period of time.

Other objects, advantages and features of invention may appear from theaccompanying drawing, the subjoined detailed description, and theappended claims.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary perspective view of our metal grating.

Figure 2 is a fragmentary, top plan view of the same.

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken on line 3--3 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary, plan View of a modified form of openingprovided in the metal gratmg.

Figure 5 is a sectional view taken on line 5-5 of Figure 4.

Figure 6 is a fragmentary plan view of still another modified form ofopening through the metal grating.

Figure 7 is a sectional view taken on line 'l! of Figure 6.

Referring more particularly to the drawing, the numeral I indicates ametal sheet, one longitudinal edge of which is bent downwardly as shownat 2, while th opposite edge is bent upwardly as shown at 3. The sideedges of the plate are bent both upwardly and downwardly, a shown at 4and 5. The reason for this construction is to make the plate reversibleso that when one surface becomes worn, the plate can be reversed and itsuseful life thus continued. The plate I can be made of any desiredlength or width, depending on the use to which the plate might be put.

Our metal grating can be used as a step in a stairway or as an overheador ground grating, uch as are used in various industrial plants, in theoil fields, and elsewhere.

The horizontal surface of the plate I is provided with alternate rows ofupwardly and downwardly extending embossments 6 and I. The embossment 6extends upwardly, and the adjacent embossment 1 extends downwardly. Anopening 8 extends through each of the embossments, and as shown inFigures 1, 2 and elsewhere, the embossments overlap. Taking Figure 2 asan example, the embossments 6 are spaced apart and are aligned as shown,and the embossments 1 overlap the spaced embossment 6. Due to thisoverlapping of the plate embossing, the transverse strength of the plateis not decreased, but on the contrary is even increased over thetransverse strength of a flat plate. With our arrangement, there are noweak lines between adjacent holes. The embossing or ribbed effect of theplate increases its strength even though the holes 8 are punched out ofthe metal.

In fabricating the flat sheet, it is first embossed, then the holes 8are punched, thereby providing straight vertical edges 9, therebypresenting a sharp edge to the shoe of the workman. If the edges 9 weretapered, dirt and the like would tend to accumulate in the holes, andthe gripping action of the sharp edges would be materially reduced. Withour construction, the grating is self-cleaning and due to the fact thatalternate embossments are depressed, an effective water drain isprovided.

In Figure 4, we have shown the same general type of grating previouslydescribed, with the exception that the holes and the embossments arediagonally shaped, as shown at It) and H respectively.

In Figures 6 and '7, we have illustrated still another form of metalgrating, the general construction being similar to that described inFigures 1 to 3 inclusive. With this latter ar- 5 rangement, however, arib i2 is provided between adjacent embossments for the purpose ofadditionally strengthening the transverse section of the grating. Theribs I2 preferably join adjacent aligned embossments, as shown in Figure6. The openings through the embossments are the same as described andshown in Figure 2.

Having described our invention, we claim:

1. A metal grating comprising a plate, a plurality of rows of elongatedembossings on the plate, each elongated embossing having an openingtherein, the elongated embossing in one row overlapping the elongatedembossing in the adjacent row, whereby the transverse strength of theplate is strengthened, the alternate rows of embossings being bentupwardly and downwardly whereby a drain is provided for the grating, anupwardly bent flange on one edge of the grating, a downwardly bentflange on the other edge of the grating, and upwardly and downwardlybent flanges on each side of the grating, whereby a reversible gratingis provided.

2. A metal grating comprising a plate, a plurality of rows of embossingson the plate, each embossing having an opening therein, the embossing inone row overlapping the embossing in the adjacent row, whereby thetransverse strength of the plate is strengthened, and ribs extendingbetween adjacent embossings in each row.

CLAUD H. BILLS. GEORGE E. YOUNG.

